Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Published Biography

“Blood, Sweat and Fears” ISBN: 978-0-64692-750-3 Medical Practitioners and Medical Students of South Australia who served in WW1. 2014

Additional Biography

Early Life

Walter was born on the 10th of April 1888, to the Reverend Frederick Webb and Emma Jane (née Barnes). John’s father was an Anglican Minister from Armadale, Armadale, Victoria. His birth registration (Victoria No 8120 of 1888) gives his name at birth as Frederick Walter Swanton Webb, however for the remainder of his life he used the name Walter Frederick Swanton Webb. The Rev Frederick Webb was incumbent at St Albans Church, Armadale, at the time of Walter’s birth.

The Rev. Frederick Webb moved to South Australia with his family in November 1895 to continue his ministry at Holy Trinity Church, Adelaide. Other members of the Webb family were, Victoria Emma Jane Webb (1892), John Newton Webb (1893), Arthur Liddon Webb (1898) and Dorothy Mary Webb (1901).

Schooling

Walter initially had attended Kyre College (which later became Scotch College in 1919), according to a 1915 newspaper article listing Kyre Old Boys who were serving in WWI. By 1903, Walter (aged 15) was attending St Peter’s College where he won a prize for Scripture. In June 1905, aged 17, Walter travelled by Sailer to England,. He stayed with relatives at Andover, Hampshire. It was thought that he planned to stay in England for some years, but his plans were indefinite.

Walter returned to Australia some time before December 1909 as he passed his Senior Examinations in English Literature, Modern History, Latin and German in December 1909 and Special Senior Examinations and Special Senior Examinations in Literature, Modern History, Latin, German, Arithmetic and algebra, Geometry and Trigonometry (under private tuition) in March 1910. He may have undertaken further studies for the Higher Public Examinations in 1910, however records to support this assumption have not been located.

University

In November 1911, at 23 years of age, Walter passed subjects in first year medicine and by December 1914 had completed third year. Walter had enlisted for WWI in November 1914 but returned to Australia in July 1915 to complete his medical degree. Walter passed fourth year in 1917 and undertook fifth year in 1918. He is described as "non-graduating" in the portrait of the 1918 Medical Graduates (see document).

After the end of WWI, Walter travelled to the United Kingdom and completed his studies in Scotland. He qualified LRCP and S, Edinburgh (Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons) and LRCP and S, Glasgow and was registered as a fully qualified medical practitioner in South Australia in April 1920.

University Sport

Football
Walter played B Grade football for Adelaide University in the Adelaide Student’s Association. He was a member of the team which won the 1914 Premiership playing alongside his brother John Newton Webb.

World War I

Walter Webb was a 26-year-old medical student when he joined up on the 23rd of November 1914. He was 5’7½“, 128 lbs, with a fair complexion, blue eyes and fair hair. He embarked for overseas service as a private with the 1st Australian General Hospital at Melbourne on the 5th of December 1914 and arrived in Egypt in early 1915.

He returned from Egypt at his own request to continue his medical studies and was discharged in Adelaide on the 31st of July 1915. The exact date of his arrival in Adelaide and the boat he returned on is not recorded on his WWI service record.

Walter’s brother John Newton Webb, qualified MB BS in 1917 and enlisted on the 12 February 1918.

Career and Family Life

Walter returned from his overseas studies in March 1920 and was registered as a fully qualified medical practitioner in South Australia in April 1920. In May 1920, Walter arrived in Streaky Bay, SA, to commence his medical practice. He also consulted at Wirrulla (60 kms from Streaky Bay). By September 1920, Walter was Honorary Surgeon to the Streaky Bay Racing Club.

On the 14th of August 1920, Walter married Winnifred (or Winifred) Myrtle Western the daughter of Mr and Mrs George Western of Marion SA, at the Holy Trinity Church, Adelaide.

By July 1921, Dr. and Mrs. Webb had moved to Swan Reach on the Murray River, SA. In October 1921 Walter had a narrow escape when he was in a car and the petrol tank caught fire.

By August 1922, Walter was Secretary to the Swan Reach Agricultural Society, however he then left Swan Reach for Sydney in October 1922. It is not clear if Walter practiced in NSW or was there to undertake further studies, however by July 1923 he was practicing at Croydon in South Australia where he assisted after an accidental shooting.

In September 1924, Walter’s mother passed away at sea on the return journey from a trip with her husband to England and the Continent. His brother, John, acted as Executor of her will.

In 1925, Walter and Winnifred welcomed a daughter, Emmaline Nancy (known as Nancy) Webb. Less than a year after the passing of his mother, Walter lost father, the Rev. Frederick Webb in March 1925. Winnifred’s father, Mr George Western had died a month earlier in January 1925.

In September 1926, Walter again had the misfortune to be in a car which burst into flames. This time it was his car which had only been on the road for three weeks.

Walter’s brother, Dr Arthur Liddon Webb, was in London from 1926 and in December 1929, where he passed his final examinations for the fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons, London.

By 1931, Walter was a keen listener to short-wave radio. He was among the residents of West Croydon who complained about the quality of the water supplied to them from the Millbrook Reservoir in January 1923, stating that the odour of the water was “sewer-like”.

By November 1932, Walter was a Division IV Lawn Bowler, playing for Brighton in the SA Bowling Association Pennant competition. In January 1933, he was one of the 208 men who entered the Lawn Bowls State Singles Championship. In February 1936, Walter described the anticipation when holding of a ticket (in the Lottery) as “a mental tonic which brightened life, especially for the despairing poor”.

The family were residing at 68 Dale Avenue, West Croydon from at least 1937 when Walter made his view on Car Parking facilities in the city of Adelaide the subject of a letter to ‘The Advertiser’.

Walter’s wife was actively involved in Fighting Forces Comfort Fund during WWII, with a particular interest in the knitting of “Warm Woollies” for the troops. Walter was (by July 1945) the honorary surgeon of the Kilkenny Football Club.

Walter and Winnifred’s daughter Nancy obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from Adelaide University in April 1949.

Walter was still being thanked for his role in the delivery of babies in 1954.

Most South Australian newspapers are only available in digital format up to the 31st of December 1954, leaving a gap in Walter’s story from that date until his death.

Death

Walter passed away on the 29th of September 1963 and his ashes were interred at Centennial Park Cemetery, Adelaide on the 28th of November 1963.

Winnifred Myrtle Webb passed away on the 3rd of March 1975, aged 84 and Walter and Winnifred’s Daughter Emmaline Nancy Webb passed away on the 25th of September 1998, aged 73. The ashes of both Winnifred and Nancy were also interred at Centennial Park Cemetery, Adelaide.

Author EE (Beth) Filmer

For the complete profile including photographs, newspaper articles, documents and sources prepared for the AUFC/AUCC WWI Memorial Project (in the period 2015-2019) please see the document attached.